A Scrap Metal Collector's Guide to Brass

If you collect scrap metal, then you should always be on the lookout for items made from brass, which is a relatively valuable metal. However, there are so many types of this nonferrous metal that vary in appearance, composition, and value that it can be tough for scrap metal collectors to identify brass items and quickly determine how much they may be worth. 



Read on to learn just how the value of brass tends to compare to other common nonferrous metals, common brass types you may find while scrapping, and what items are typically made from this metal alloy. 

Like other metals, the value of brass fluctuates on a routine basis. In addition, brass types that contain an ample amount of high-value copper are typically worth more than other brass types that contain less copper. However, a pound of brass is almost always more valuable than a pound of steel or aluminum, yet less valuable than pure copper. For this reason, it pays to collect all of the brass you can when collecting scrap metal.

While there are over 60 distinct types of brass, several of these types are much more commonly used today than others. 

Red brass, also called alpha brass, is brass that has less than 37 percent zinc content. While small amounts of some additional metals, such as tin and lead, may be added to red brass, the predominant metal that makes up this alloy is copper. In fact, most red brass has a copper content of 85 percent or higher. 

Red brass is often mistaken for bronze, because both have a similar reddish-gold hue. 



Irony brass, or white brass, on the other hand, has a much higher zinc content than red brass and contains over 45 percent zinc. This high percentage of zinc lends the metal a white or silver appearance and makes the metal much more brittle than red brass. 

The lower copper content of irony brass leads to this brass type being less valuable than copper-rich red brass. 



Yellow brass typically has a copper content that is about 60 percent or lower. For this reason, yellow brass is less valuable than red brass, yet more valuable than zinc-rich irony brass. Yellow brass is pale yellow in appearance. 

While red, irony, and yellow brass are all used in a variety of industries to create a wide array of items, there are a few common items you may come across when collecting scrap metal that are likely to be made from brass or contain at least some brass elements. 



Red brass is often used to create household décor: door handles, hinges, locks and other exterior door hardware; kitchen and bathroom faucets; and bathroom and kitchen cabinet hardware. Other items often made from brass include nuts, bolts, fasteners, and screws used in the construction industry and heat exchangers. Many firearm ammunition casings are also made from red brass. 

Since the white or silver color of irony brass often leads to it resembling the more expensive precious metal silver, irony brass is often used to create silver-toned costume jewelry. This brass type is also used to make plated silverware and automobile bearings. In addition, irony brass components can often be found inside of many types of electronic devices. 

Yellow brass is also used to create jewelry; screws, nuts, and bolts; and many types of household hardware, such as door and cabinet handles. However, yellow brass is most frequently used in the creation of many types of musical instruments. If you find a trombone, saxophone, tuba, or trumpet when collecting scrap metal, then the odds are that this instrument is made from yellow brass. 

All scrap metal collectors should understand what the most common types of brass look like, how valuable they are, and what brass items they can look for when out collecting. Stop by one of the convenient Big Daddy Scrap locations to recycle your scrap brass and make some cash while you do it.